Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Combine Files into One PDF in Adobe Acrobat

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One of Adobe Acrobat’s most convenient features lets you combine files into one PDF. Best of all, the files don’t have to be other PDFs—you can combine nearly any file (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or image) as long as you have the corresponding software on your computer.

This tutorial walks through all the steps to combine files. Plus, the bonus section at the end shows how to organize and delete pages after combining the files.

Important Note: The files you combine will be converted to the PDF format. So, files with interactive properties (such as Excel files) will be “flattened” to a text format. (However, the original file will not be affected.)

If you want to combine files without converting them to PDFs, please see “How to Create a PDF Portfolio in Adobe Acrobat” and “How to Insert Files into Existing PDFs in Adobe Acrobat.”

This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 200 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. The steps are the same in Adobe Acrobat Standard DC, Adobe Acrobat 2020, and Adobe Acrobat 2017. Adobe’s free PDF display software, Acrobat Reader, does not have a tool for combining files.

How to Combine Files into One PDF

  1. Select the Tools tab.
Adobe Acrobat Tools Tab
Figure 1. Tools tab
  1. Select the Combine Files button in the Tools Center.
Adobe Acrobat Combine Files Button
Figure 2. Combine Files button
  1. Select the Add Files button.
Adobe Acrobat Add Files Button
Figure 3. Add Files button
  1. Navigate to the first file you want to add in the Add Files dialog box.

Pro Tip: You can select multiple files within the same folder by pressing the Ctrl key while selecting additional files.

Selected files in the Add Files dialog box in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 4. Selected files
  1. Select the Open button.
Open button in the Add Files dialog box in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 5. Open button
  1. Select the Add Files button in the Combine Files toolbar to add additional files.
Add Files button in the Combine Files toolbar in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 6. Add Files button in the Combine Files toolbar
  1. Select Add Files from the drop-down menu.
Add Files option from the Add Files menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 7. Add Files option
  1. Repeat steps 4 through 7 until you have added all your files.

Pro Tip: Combine Specific Pages

You can combine specific pages from individual files.

  1. Double-click the file to expand the pages.
Expanded view of files to be combined in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 8. Expanded view of files to be combined
  1. Select pages you want to remove and then select the Delete button.
Delete button in expanded view of combined files in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 9. Delete button in the expanded view

You can also reorder the pages by dragging them into a different position within the expanded view.

  1. Select the Collapse button when you are finished deleting or reordering pages.
Collapse button in the expanded view of combined files in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 10. Collapse button
  1. Select the Combine button in the Combine Files toolbar. (The process may take several minutes depending on file sizes.)
Combine button in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 11. Combine button

The new combined file will be called binder#.pdf.

Binder file name in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 12. Binder file name
  1. (Optional Step) Select the File tab followed by Save As to save your file under another name.
Save As option in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 13. Save As option

The next section shows how to organize and delete pages after combining the files.

How to Organize Pages after Combining Files

This method can also be used for regular (non-combined) PDFs.

  1. Select the Tools tab (see figure 1).
  2. Select the Organize Pages button in the Tools Center.
Organize Pages button in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 14. Organize Pages button
  1. Select and drag pages to new positions.
Dragging page to new position in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 15. Dragging a page to a new position
  1. Select pages and then select the Delete button to remove pages.
Delete button in the Organize Pages toolbar in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 16. Delete button
  1. Select the Close button in the Organize Pages toolbar.
Organize Pages Close button in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 17. Close button

After combining and organizing your pages, you can add page numbers to further unify the PDF.

Related Resources

How to Create a Blank PDF in Adobe Acrobat

How to Attach Files to PDFs in Adobe Acrobat

How to Search Multiple PDFs with Adobe Acrobat’s Advanced Search

Updated February 12, 2023